The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-02-26
A BRILLIANT SOCIAL EVENT.
Two Thousand Persons Attend the Mill
tary Ball at Tomlinson Hall.
Bright Uniforms and Beautiful Dresses Min
gle in the Dance and Make Dazzling
Scene-Some of the Costumes Worn.


the grand military ball 1t was a gorgeous
gathering of youth and beauty. It was not an
assemblage of any caste, society or order,
but great reunion of all people who
love the name of responsibility. Hereto
fore all the grand balls have been managed
by some single order. society or company. and
though many of them have in measure proved
q success last nights affair demonstrated that to
be complete success such an affair requires
the combined influence Of all representatives of
responsibility. Every uniformed organization
of the city participated in the management. and
the result was the friends of every military man
were invited, and the great majority of them re-
sponded to the invitation. The poor mans
daughter waltzed beside the daughter Of
the rich. and the common laborer was on
the same social level as the banker aud his
sons and daughters. There were not few
connected with the management who did not
say such plan could not prove success, but it
did, and if it resulted in nothing else. it has
cemented the friendship of the numerous organ
izatons Of the city Another thing that made
the occasion one Of such rare pleasure was that
there was no iron clad rule of dress prescribed
and these cold formalites that chill the blood of
the average human being entirely dis
pensed with. In saying this there can be no
reflection on the costume OF anyone, for
among them were elegant and costly ones,
But those honest, hard working young Ameri
cans, who are generally barred from such
grand affair by the requirement of a full-dress
suit, were free to come with the best they had
this time. They were there, and common court
esy accorded to them the full free measure of
independence and enjoyment. There were no
addressed people there. The array Of fine raj
ment of both the brave men and fair women
was dazzling and attractive, because of its vari-
ETY. of makeup Brilliant uniforms dotted the
floor, and their contrast with the half hundred
full-dress suits, and the hundred
plain suits of clerks and workingmen, called
| forth many kindly comments. It was varie
| gated mixture of humanity and dress. and yet
crowd of select responsibility. None in this
city has surpassed it in free and full socia-
blity. In the pleasures of the night all posi-
tons and formalities were sunk in the determin-
| alton to have an unhampered and unalloyed
| evenings pleasure.
| It was no later than 8 o'clock when the gath
erine began to enter the brilliantly and gayly
| decorated hall. They we're not dancers but the
older class of persons, who still love to sit and
| watch the mazes of the dizzy movements and re-
| call to mind when time sat lightly their own
heads This class of people wandered in slowly
and went to the gallery. 1t cost So to occupy
seat on the floor, and, besides, from above was
| the most pleasing view OF. the dance.
| By 9 o'clock the gallery was comfortably
filed with persons past middle age, and few
| much younger in years who have not learned to
enjoy the mysteries of the waltz. At that hour
! there were but few stragglers on the floor, who
had not clung closely to the fashionable hour for
| appearing at ball. and the elegantly dressed
and nrbane committee of reception. By
haif-past o'clock the dancers be-
gan to come, and within half an
| bour To FIR h,1nd al an bo
| floor. It was evident that they were impatient
| for the sweet strains OF music from Cameron's
orchestra, which had appeared on the stage, that
would start them whirling in the poetry of
| motion.
| They did not have to wait long The hands of
| the clock had just reached the hour Of 10 when
| a request came from the director for all persons
| who desired to participate in the grand march to
| concentrate in the northwest corner of the hail.
| and form a line in the west corridor. 1t was i'm
| possible for all who the floor to find
| room in the march, but over two hundred couples
| responded. The floor was cleared, the full force
| of the brilliant light was turned on, and as the
| orchestra struck up the inspiring strains Of the
| march the head of the column ap-
peared at the northwest door. with
| military escort, composed of members from
Captain James B. Curtis led the escort. and was
| followed by c. l.. Dewitt Harry C. Jackson,
Fred Dietrichs, G. S. Butterfeld, G. B. Clark.
Charles L. Schmidt. F. NJ. Ferree T. A. Winter
n. q.
Manning, Robert Barnett. Martin P. Grady,
| William Colbert John NJ Sullivan. Fred John
son, Harry johnson, Campbell Cobb. j. B. Nc
| Namara. John Himebo, e. G. Stelhorn, G..
| Adams, Ed Pugh and L. Bart.
The head of the column was supported by
| Mayor and Mrs. C. S. Denny. The march was
perfect in its conception and execution. AS the
| head of the column had finished the last move
ment the military escort salu'ed and departed,
and simultaneously the orchestra struck up
waltz, Duchess of Nona" and instantly the
two hundred couples fell to the graceful move
| ment cs the waltz. It was then the company
| appeared best.
The costumes worn were, some of them, very
| handsome. Many OF the married ladies wore
black, in silk, lace velvet. with natural flow
ers, and had many more had even less color, the
gilt. blue and gray of the gentlemen's uniforms
| would have made a brilliant scene The scene
from the gallery was dazzling, especially in the
round dances, when the two hundred couples
we're whirling in every direction. From the
lower floor the beauty Of the dresses could be
better appreciated. description of few OF
the costumes will give fair idea of the gather.
ing which was framed by the booths below and
filled galleries above:
Mrs. Caleb Denny wore dress of black satin en-
brodered in gold and amber beads. cut neckel
back and front.
Mrs. w X. Eldridge, lavender cachmere, trimmed
| with bands of black velvet
Mrs Pierre Gray black silk, deliberately trimmed
with jet.
Miss May Fritz of Gosport, yellow surah mos
Mrs r. c. J. Pendeton maroon silk and brocadt
| with maroon feathers.
Mrs Ed Hendrickson, black silk and jet trimmings.
Miss George Black light blue silk, the decollett
| corsage bordered with ostrich feathers.
| Miss Mary Heron, sea-foam silk with ribbons o.
| shell pink.
Mrs. G. G. Howe. black velvet, with jet, and cor
| sage bouquet of white
Miss Minnie Stoddard, of Minneapolis, light greer
silk. with panels of olive velvet, ostrich tips ane
| pearls.
Mrs. Robert Springstien, pink surah skirt ant
| draperies, with waist of olive green velvet.
Miss Jessie Bigelow. of the han1somest dresses
worn-of heliotrope silk. with lace and pearls.
Miss Kate Conley, white cloth, with white satiI
ribbons tastefuly arranged and natural flowers
Miss Mollie Eigelow light blue silk and brocade